Beam Me “UP” Scotty

James Doohan (Star Trek “Scotty”) passed away today much to my personal sadness. You see it wasn’t that long ago when I had the pleasure to meet Mr. Doohan, although our first close encounter almost ended up in a head butting.

I had business (no I didn’t have to go to the toilet) in an old mansion where a movie shoot was happening. Despite the fact they were ready to roll the cameras they let me through. After completing my errand, I was descending a winding staircase that had lighting cables strewn all over the steps.

Because of all the cables I had to look at my feet so I wouldn’t end up taking the short trip to the bottom. There was a bunch of actors standing there dressed in butler’s uniforms, and about half-way down I heard one of them shout “heads up! I looked up to find myself staring eyeball-to-eyeball with James Doohan, who just happened to be doing the same thing coming up the staircase. We narrowly missed a collision in mid-flight.

In my astonishment all that I could muster was “beam me ‘down’ Scotty”. I know, I’m sure he’s heard similar versions a million times before but it seemed appropriate at the time and it did get a chuckle out of him.

Later, I met him outside again, and we shook hands. I thanked him for all the pleasure that he had given me with his wonderful character “Scotty” and told him what an honour it was to meet him.

What a sad day for his fans. Let’s hope James will be beamed up to that great starship in the sky where all good trekkies go. “Aye captain”.